On the handling of equipment and waste containing polychlorinated biphenyls

Polychlorinated biphenyls (hereinafter referred to as PCBs) belong to the group of persistent organic pollutants (hereinafter referred to as POPs).

PCBs possess toxic properties, are persistent and bioaccumulative substances, and are capable of migrating long distances in various media.

The Republic of Belarus acceded to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants in 2004. The volumes of POPs accumulated in the territory of the republic include PCB-containing equipment, PCB-contaminated soil, and a small amount of PCB-based liquids.

The production of PCBs is prohibited, but they are still used in technical devices.

Enterprises have obsolete electrical equipment – PCB-containing capacitors and transformers.

When handling equipment and waste containing PCBs, including packaging of damaged equipment, draining of PCB-based dielectric fluids, remediation of PCB spills, and transportation and storage of equipment and waste containing PCBs, the Rules for Handling Equipment and Waste Containing Polychlorinated Biphenyls, approved by Resolution of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus of 24.06.2008 No. 62, and environmental norms and rules EcoNiP 17.01.06-001-2017 "Environmental Protection and Nature Management. Environmental Safety Requirements", approved by Resolution of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus of 18.07.2017 No. 5-T (as amended on 29.04.2023), shall be followed.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, together with other state bodies and international organizations, is implementing a number of measures to address the POPs problem. These include the issue of environmentally sound destruction of POP-containing waste.

Currently, the international technical assistance project "Sustainable Management of Persistent Organic Pollutants and Chemicals in the Republic of Belarus, GEF-6" is being implemented.

The preparation of waste for export and subsequent disposal, as well as the centralized export of consolidated hazardous waste, is carried out by the Consolidation Center of the State Enterprise "Complex for Processing and Disposal of Toxic Industrial Waste of the Gomel Region".

Work has begun on concluding agreements for the provision of services for the preparation of PCB-containing capacitors planned for destruction with equipment owners.